Ice cube ejector device

ABSTRACT

This invention provides an ice cube ejecting device for releasing and storing ice cubes from a flexible twist-type tray. The device comprises: a container having two sides with outwardly extended top edges, the top edges being arranged in horizontal inclined planes transverse to one another; a cover mounted on the container, the cover having downwardly extending parallel sides which are attached to the corresponding top edges of the container, the cover having at least one open end arranged to form with the container an opening in the device, the cover forming with the outwardly extended edges a pair of inner ramps, the ramps being at relatively different angles between the front and rear of the device; and a pair of spaced parallel ribs projecting downward from the inner upper surface of the cover, the ribs having edges inclined to lie substantially parallel to the adjacent ramp between the front and rear of the device, whereby when a filled ice-cube tray is placed invertedly in the opening of the device and moved along the ramps completely into the device, a twisting action is produced sufficient to twist one end of the tray with respect to the other to release the ice cubes from the tray into the container.

United States Patent [191 Tunzi et a1. v l

[ ICE CUBE EJECTOR DEVICE [73] Assignee: Admiral Corporation, Chicago, Ill.

22 Filed: Sept. 14, 1971 21 Appl.No.: 180,396

[52] US. Cl 62/320, 62/344, 141/364, 141/375 [51] Int. Cl F25c l/24, F250 5/06, B65b 3/06 [58] Field of Search 141/364, 375; 62/320, 344

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,159,985 12/1964 Keighley 62/344 3,217,510 11/1965 Kniffin 62/344 X 3,135,101 6/1964 -Nigro 62/344 3,226,939 l/1966 62/344 X 3,398,552 8/1968 62/320 3,642,162 2/1972 62/344 X 3,412,572 11/1968 62/344 3,514,964 6/1970 62/344 X 3,653,224 4/1972 62/344 3,670,523 6/1972 Fogt 62/344 Gross & Simpson Apr. 16, 1974 [5 7] ABSTRACT This invention provides an ice cube ejecting device for releasing and storing ice cubes from a flexible twisttype tray. The device comprises: a container having container, the cover having downwardly extending parallel sides which are attached to the corresponding top edges of the container, the cover having at least one open end arranged. to form with the container an opening in the device, the cover forming with the outwardly extended edges a pair of inner ramps, the ramps being at relatively different angles between the front and rear of the device; and a pairof spaced parallel ribs projecting downward from the inner upper surface of the cover, the ribs having edges inclined to 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR '1 6 m4 SHEET 1 UF 2 8 m5 m4 0 Z Z 5 J06 M. Z M .5 2 M 2 X V; .1. 1 :42 4 5 2 211] i 4 W I ,7 ,T W j 2 N i m 4 F m w m q L M n 4 Tl z/vt l WI I I I I I I I I W .w H 3% 0 & R H m 5 .l N F. T A P Jim l N VEN TOR m mm 5 4 D A w/ J&

Jay ATTORNEYS 1 ICE CUBE EJECTOR DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an ice cube ejecting device for releasing and storing ice cubes from a flexible twisttype tray. The device is adapted to be placed in the freezer section of a refrigerator.

There are various mechanisms and devices which have been incorporated in refrigerators for dispensing and ejecting ice cubes from ice trays therein. However, most of these devices and mechanisms incorporated in refrigerators are quite complicatedand expensive with respect to both the installation and operation of such devices to dispense and eject ice cubes from a tray.

A typical ice cube ejection mechanism utilized in refrigerators is one which has means to invert an ice-cube tray and to hold in place one end of the tray while the other end is twisted or turned by some other means to release the ice cubes'from the tray. This mechanism, as is apparent, is expensive, and has been so expensive to install in a household refrigerator that purchasers are discouraged from paying the additional amount for a refrigerator having such mechanism. Thus, the purchaser has been deprived of the advantages of an ice cube releasing device in hisrefrigerator.

Among the other apparatuses'and mechanisms used for ejecting ice cubes, there are those that employ aritificial heat for ejecting ice cubes from the freezing molds or trays. These apparatuses, in addition to excessively increasing the cost of refrigerator, also decrease the .efficiency of the refrigerating systems due to the dissipation of the heat utilized in removing the ice cubes from the ice tray.

In view of these expensive and inefficient ice cube ejecting mechanisms and apparatuses that have been incorporated in refrigerators, there is a need for an ice cube release mechanism which can effectively release ice cubes from trays and can be inexpensively installed in the freezing compartment of a refrigerator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, we have developed an effective and practical ice cube ejecting device which is useful for releasing and storing ice cubes from a flexible twist-type tray. The ice cube ejecting device comprises: a container including two sides having outwardly extending 'edges, the top edges being arranged in horizontal inclined planes transverse to one another; a cover mounted on the container, the cover having downwardly extending parallel sides respectively attached to the outwardly extendededges of the container, the cover having at least one open end arranged to form with the container an opening in the device, thecover with the outwardly extended edges forming a pair of spaced inner ramps which are inclined at relatively different angles between the front and rear of the device;

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ice cube ejecting device for releasing and storing ice cubes from flexible twist-type trays, that is economical, practical and efficient.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following de-. scription of the preferred embodiment thereof when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top view of an ice-cube tray placed invertedly in an ice cube ejecting device embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ice cube ejecting device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a phantom cross sectional view taken on line IIIIII of FIG. 2, illustrating the manner in which the inverted ice-cube tray is twisted when positioned completely within the ejecting device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the ice cube ejecting device illustrated in FIGS. 1-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring initially to FIG. 1, an ice-cube tray 10 is shown placed invertedly within an ice cube ejecting device l2 embodying the present invention. The ice-cube tray has a plurality of cavities or molds 13 arranged in two parallel rows. 1

The ice-cube tray 10, according to the present invention, is a flexible twist-type tray formed of a relatively deformable thermoplastic material. The tray has relatively rigid end portions and top edges 15 in order to support the twisting motion which occurs in the ice cube release device 12 whenthe ice cubes are released from their respective molds into the container 14.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the ice cube release device 12 comprises a bottom portion or container 14 having parallel sides 16 and 18. The sides have, respectively, top outwardly extended edges 20 and 22 which lie in horizontal inclined planes transverse to one another. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the plane of edge 20 has an upward inclination and the plane of edge 22 has a downward inclination as both edges extend from one end of the container to a rear side or wall 17. The top edges 20 and 22 of the container 14 should be wider than the edges 15 of the ice-cube tray 10 in order to support the tray when placed invertedly in the device 12.

On the container 14 there is mounted a cover member 24 having downward extending parallel sides 26 and 28. The cover 24 is mounted on the container 14 by means of the bottom edges 30 and 32, respectively, of the parallel sides 26 and 28, being attached to the corresponding top edges 20 and 22 of the container 14.

Referring particularly to FIG. 4, the cover 24 and top edges 20 and 22 of the container 14 form a pair of spaced inner ramps 38 and 40. The ramps 38 and 40 extend the full length of the device 12 and are inclined upwardly in opposite directions to one another and at relatively different angles between the front and rear of the device 12. As shown, the container 14 has a rear side 17 with a top edge or surface 19 slanted downward from side 16 to side 18. The cover 24 has essentially open ends with the front end 60 and rear end 62 being triangularly shaped to form with the container 14 front and rear openings 42 and 44 in the device. Thefront 42 and rear 44 openings with respect to one another are turned at opposite angles. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 3, when an ice tray is placed invertedly in an opening of the device and moved along the ramps completely into the device 12, the front end 46 of the tray will be twisted with respect to the rear end 48.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 4, projecting downward from the inner upper surface of the cover member 24 are a pair of longitudinally spaced parallel ribs 34 and 36. The ribs 34 and 36 have, respectively, edges 35 and 37 which are inclined upwardly in opposite directions to one another between the front and rear of the ejecting device 12. The edges are inclined to lie substantially parallel to the adjacent ramp. That is, edges 35 and 37, respectively, are substantially parallel to ramps 38 and 40.

The ribs, as shown in FIG. 1, are arranged to contact and press against the bottoms of the molds 13 of the ice tray when it is placed invertedly into the device 12.

On the top surface of the cover 24 an inner surrounding ridge 54 is provided where ice-cube trays filled with water can be stacked for the freezing process. In the front end 56 of the container 14 an opening 58 is formed for harvesting the ice cubes ejected from the tray into the container. V

In order to produce an effective twisting motion when an ice tray is placed completely into the device, it is preferred to have top edges 20, 22 of the container lie in a plane parallel to the planes in which the corresponding edges 35, 37 of the ribs 34, 36, lie. That is, top edge 20 should lie in a plane that is parallel in which edge 35 lies, and top edge 22 in a plane parallel to the plane of edge 37.

With the device 12, as shown in FIG. 4, having front 42 and rear 44 openings, an ice tray may be placed into the device at either end as well as being removed from either end after the ice cubes have been released from the tray into the container. The rear end of the device may be closed, however, this arrangement would require the ice tray to be inserted into and removed from the device at one end.

The ejecting device 12 may be made of any suitable high impact platic material such as polystyrene.

In operating the ejecting device 12, a filled ice-cube tray is placed invertedly into one of the openings 42 or 44, and moved on its top edges along the ramps 38 and 40 until the tray is completely positioned within the device. As thetray is moved along the ramp the ribs 34 and 35 are in contact and pressing against the bottom of the molds 13 of the tray and each of the ramps 38 and 40 coact with its respective ribs 34 and 35 to cause the opposite edges of the tray to follow relatively inclined paths to produce a twisting effect sufficient to twist one end of the tray with respect to the other end to release the ice cubes from their respective molds 13 into the container 14. After the ice cubes have been ejected from the tray, the tray can either be pulled out through the front opening 42 or. pushed further out through the rear opening 44 and filled with water and placed on the ridge 54 of the cover 24.

It is apparent from the above description that an ice cube ejecting device is provided which can be inexpensively manufactured, and simply operated without any expensive mechanical or electrical means to release ice cubes from ice trays in a refrigerator.

We claim as our invention:

1. An ice cube ejecting device for releasing and storing ice cubes from a flexible twist-type tray having a plurality of molds arranged in parallel rows, said device comprising:

a. a container including two parallel sides having outwardly extended top edges, said top edges lying in horizontal inclined planes with the plane of one edge being inclined at an angle to the plane of the other edge;

b. a cover mounted on said container, said cover having downwardly extending parallel sides which are respectively attached to adjacent ones of said top edges of said container, said cover having at least one open end arranged to form with said container an opening in said device, said cover forming with said top edges two spaced inner ramps, said ramps being inclined at relatively different angles with the inclination of one ramp being in an upward direction and the inclination of the other ramp being in a downward direction as the two ramps extend from a front end of the container to a rear wall thereof; and

c. a pair of longitudinally spaced ribs extending downward from the inner upper surface of said cover and extending between the front and rear of the cover, each of said ribs terminating in an elongated lower edge inclined to lie parallel to the adjacent ramp, whereby when a filled ice-cube tray is invertedly placed in the opening of said device and moved along said ramps completely into said device, said ramps and adjacent ribs coact to cause the oppositev edges of the tray to follow relatively inclined paths to twist one end of the tray with respect to the other to release the ice cubes from the tray into the container.

2. An ice cube ejecting device for releasing and storing ice cubes from a flexible twist-type tray having a plurality of molds arranged in parallel rows, said device comprising:

a. a container including parallel sides having outwardly extending top edges, said top edges lying in horizontal inclined planes with the plane of one edge being inclined in an opposite direction to the direction of inclination of the plane of the other edge;

. a cover mounted on said container, said cover having downwardly extending parallel sides which are respectively attached to said top edges of said container, said cover having at least one open end arranged to form with said container an opening in said device, said cover forming with said top edges two spaced inner ramps, said ramps being inclined at relatively different angles with one ramp having a downward inclination and the other ramp having an upward inclination as the pair of ramps extend from a front end to a rear wall of the device; and

c. a pair of longitudinally spaced parallel ribs extending downward from the inner upper surface of said cover and extending between the front and rear of said cover, each of said ribs terminating in an elonthe opposite edges of the tray to follow relatively inclined paths to twist one end of the tray with respect to the other to release the ice cubes from the tray into the container. 

1. An ice cube ejecting device for releasing and storing ice cubes from a flexible twist-type tray having a plurality of molds arranged in parallel rows, said device comprising: a. a container including two parallel sides having outwardly extended top edges, said top edges lying in horizontal inclined planes with the plane of one edge being inclined at an angle to the plane of the other edge; b. a cover mounted on said container, said cover having downwardly extending parallel sides which are respectively attached to adjacent ones of said top edges of said container, said cover having at least one open end arranged to form with said container an opening in said device, said cover forming with said top edges two spaced inner ramps, said ramps being inclined at relatively different angles with the inclination of one ramp being in an upward direction and the inclination of the other ramp being in a downward direction as the two ramps extend from a front end of the container to a rear wall thereof; and c. a pair of longitudinally spaced ribs extending downward from the inner upper surface of said cover and extending between the front and rear of the cover, each of said ribs terminating in an elongated lower edge inclined to lie parallel to the adjacent ramp, whereby when a filled ice-cube tray is invertedly placed in the opening of said device and moved along said ramps completely into said device, said ramps and adjacent ribs coact to cause the opposite edges of the tray to follow relatively inclined paths to twist one end of the tray with respect to the other to release the ice cubes from the tray into the container.
 2. An ice cube ejecting device for releasing and storing ice cubes from a flexible twist-type tray having a plurality of molds arranged in parallel rows, said device comprising: a. a container including parallel sides having outwardly extending top edges, said top edges lying in horizontal inclined planes with the plane of one edge being inclined in an opposite direction to the direction of inclination of the plane of the other edge; b. a cover mounted on said container, said cover having downwardly extending parallel sides which are respectively attached to said top edges of said container, said cover having at least one open end arranged to form with said container an opening in said device, said cover forming with said top edges two spaced inner ramps, said ramps being inclined at relatively different angles with one ramp having a downward inclination and the other ramp having an upward inclination as the pair of ramps extend from a front end to a rear wall of the device; and c. a pair of longitudinally spaced parallel ribs extending downward from the inner upper surface of said cover and extending between the front and rear of said cover, each of said ribs terminating in an elongated lower edge inclined to lie parallel to the adjacent ramp, whereby when a filled ice-cube tray is invertedly placed in the opening of said device and moved along said ramps completely into said device, said ramps and adjacent ribs coacting to cause the opposite edges of the tray to follow relatively inclined paths to twist one end of the tray with respect to the other to release the ice cubes from the tray into the container. 